"One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'"1

It may be hard to understand, but according to statistics that I have read from both a Christian and a secular standpoint, many people who have either a physical or emotional problem actually don't want to get well!

"That's absurd," I can almost hear some readers saying. "How could a sick person not want to get well?"

Of all those who go to see a physician or a counselor with a problem, approximately 25 percent don't want to get well. They want people's sympathy, they want to be taken care of, and some even want to die.

Another 50 percent want the counselor or doctor to fix or heal them. As one doctor said, "Half of my patients would rather I operate on their body than they operate on their lifestyle!"

And only one in four actually accepts responsibility for his/her well-being and does everything he/she can to follow the doctor or counselor's guidance. These are the ones who are committed to getting well. They are the ones who want to get well—and are most likely to do so!

Perhaps this is why Jesus said words like, "Do you want to get well?" "Do you want to be made whole?" "What do you want me to do for you?"

God will bend the heavens to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. That's why he sent Jesus to die for our sins. But he won't do anything for us that we can and need to do for ourselves—otherwise he would be keeping us over-dependent and immature. But as long as we want what is right for us, God will always do his part when we do our part.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the want to be made whole, the want to get well, the want to be what you want me to be, and the want to do what you want me to do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen."

P.S. What do you "want" Jesus to do for you?

1. John 5:5-6 (NIV).

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

Breathe. Your body breathes automatically, so when you have to think about how to breathe during exercise, it’s not uncommon for people to make mistakes.

Yoga requires breathing in and out of the nose, while Pilates recommends breathing in either the nose or mouth and then breathing out of the mouth. In weight lifting, however, there is no gray area on how to breathe. If you’re in the habit of holding your breath as you try to get that one last repetition, it’s time to stop.

Holding your breath increases your blood pressure, which can make you dizzy and lightheaded. Not only does this increase your chances of injuring yourself, it’s also a big no-no for adults with high blood pressure or heart problems. Instead of risking your health, focus on breathing out with the concentric (exertion) phase of your lift and back in with the relaxation (or eccentric) phase. Also be sure to focus on steady, controlled breathing and avoid taking quick, shallow breaths.

Once you’ve got the breathing part down, the rest is, well, a breeze.

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

I used to march during commercials. Now I watch mostly Internet shows, so I thought my fitness time was over. Now, I give myself some cue to start moving. It is like a scavenger hunt...when are they going to eat something so I can do crunches? Are they going to wear blue so I can try a plank? My latest was Madmen and every time someone lit a cigarette, I did jumping jacks! It was great!

- Submitted by MFLYNN8 3/22/2012

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

Nondairy coffee creamers. They seem innocent enough. For the lactose intolerant, it seems like a nice option, and for coffee drinkers who don’t have a refrigerator available, the powdered form is convenient. But our use of nondairy coffee creamer at home or work is a prime example of how serving sizes mean different things to different people – and nondairy creamer means too many calories for too many people.

Consider that each tablespoon of nondairy creamer runs 10-20 calories compared to 5 calories in a tablespoon of nonfat milk. Adding a liberal amount of nondairy creamer to your coffee could mean 50 calories per cup.

One concern with nondairy creamer is people’s perception of its health benefits – or rather lack of risks as compared to milk products. The nutrition label may show 0 grams of fat, but remember that if one serving of a food item has less than 1/2 gram of fat, the food can be labeled as having no fat (the same goes for trans fats). For example, Nestle Coffee-Mate Fat Free Original Powder and Fat Free Original Liquid each list “partially hydrogenated” oil as the second or third ingredient (after corn syrup solids). This means trans fats, and while the label does state in small print “Adds a trivial amount of fat,” if you end up using 2-3 servings at once and multiply that by four or five cups of coffee a day, you’re consuming significant trans fats and calories.

If you can commit to making a change in your brew, you can shave a surprising number of calories with relatively little effort. Use less sugar. Avoid sugar substitutes. If you have to have nondairy creamers, use one serving at a time. And if you really want to make a difference? Drink it black.

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

Ever wonder where your back problems came from? You put undue stress on your lower back (lumbar spine) when you lean forward over your computer keyboards, sit hunched at your desk, slouch in the car, and bend at the waist to pick up your kids.

For the sake of your back, and the body that it supports, get familiar with back-saving techniques. The 3 rules of lifting are:

1. Keep objects close to your body.

2. Move your feet instead of twisting at the waist (whether it’s to grab or set down objects).

3. Keep your spine in a neutral position.

Also, never reach for something that’s out of reach – use a step stool instead. And when you can, walk instead of drive, stand instead of sit, and always use good posture.

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

You may consider it the fate of growing older, but suffering from a bad back doesn’t have to be your destiny. You simply have to protect your back from undue stress. The lower back (lumbar spine) is usually the target of back pain, and it’s because adults spend a lot of time bending forward. You lean forward over your computer keyboard, sit hunched over your desk, slouch forward in the car, and bend at the waist (instead of bending the knees) to pick up objects. For the sake of your back, and the body that it supports, use these back-saving techniques:

Sit with proper form when you’re in front of the computer or doing any sort of seated work. Instead of slouching forward or sitting at a rigid 90-degree angle, lean back in your chair to about a 135-degree angle to take to pressure off your spine.

Don’t sit for extended periods of time. Stand up and walk around at least once an hour to reduce the strain on your back.

Walk instead of drive whenever you can to reduce the total amount of time you spend sitting down.

Never try to grab something that’s out of reach – use a step stool instead.

Follow proper lifting techniques. These will protect your back while you lift and carry heavy loads. The three rules of proper lifting are: 1) Keep objects close to your body, 2) Move your feet instead of twisting at the waist (whether it’s to reach for or set down objects), and 3) Keep your spine in a neutral position.

Avoiding possible back-breaking situations isn’t the only thing you can do. You also need to strengthen your core. Performing abdominal and lower-back exercises regularly (2-3 times a week) will keep you pain-free and standing tall for years to come.

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, Special to Lifescript Published April 27, 2012

When it comes to losing weight, it may not be how many calories you burn in a week that makes the most impact on your bottom line. Rather, it's how often you burn these calories.

If you’re relying on a 4-hour weekend hike to make up for a sedentary week, you may actually be better off spending four 1-hour sessions in the gym throughout the week. The reason? You’ll have more energy to give to your workouts when you break them up into smaller, more frequent sessions, rather than trying to do it all at once. And that means more calories burned.

Sign up for a few group fitness classes at your gym to help motivate you to be more active during the week. Or make it a point to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in each morning before you start your day. The more often you exercise, the more success you'll have at finally losing the weight and getting in shape, once and for all.

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach Published April 27, 2012

Two roads diverged in the wood, and I - I took the one less traveled. For those of you who don't know, that's a famous line from a poem by Robert Frost called, "The Road Not Taken." In a sense, you have a similar choice to make every time you make a health choice. Do you take the road less traveled or the worn path of habit? If you continue to struggle with your weight and health, it's most likely because you continue to walk down the same path day after day.

I suggest you make today the day that you change this pattern. There are so many things that you can't control in this world, but what you eat and how you treat your body is absolutely under your control. If you are not as fit or happy as you would like to be, taking the road less traveled is exactly what you must do to create positive change in your life. Because, as that old saying so accurately states, If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got. Take the road less traveled today and you will end up somewhere much healthier, starting tomorrow!

Wishing You Great Health, Dr. John H. Sklare

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

Don't try to overhaul your entire life in one day. Choose a new plan or two every week until your lifestyle slowly becomes healthy. Choose simple things first, like drinking 8 cups of water, but then work up to bigger changes, like running 2 miles every other morning! It really works!

- Submitted by ANMRUNNER 3/25/2010

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

ood Morning Walkers!! May is National Fitness Month and I have a Special Gift for Walk Social fans. If you don't already have a Walk Social account sign up today - it's FREE! You can visit Walk Social on Facebook or at Walkathome.com/walk-social.

You've lost a lot of weight, but still have a distance to go. You work out, eat the right things, and yet you've stopped losing weight.

Change something. You are at this point because your body is comfortable. Try a new workout routine, switch out your meal plans.

Do something DIFFERENT

MORE INFORMATION: Try group fitness "boot camp" style classes at your gym - rarely the same workout twice, and it will keep your body guessing. If you have a comfort food you've worked into your calories, drop it or replace it to get that extra bump you need to start losing weight again!

- Submitted by PAULCJONES 3/25/2010 A sparkpeople member

My name is Teresa. I live in Oregon

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" 1 Cor. 6:19

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Phil 3:19

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